Elephants of Chobe
Chobe National Park is known for its elephants, and the best-known place to see them is the Chobe Riverfront next to Kasane. In the dry winter months elephants and buffalo gather at the river, so the water's edge is where the herds are easiest to find. There is no guarantee for any single day, but chances are good when you spend a morning on a game drive and an afternoon on the water.
Two trips cover most of what visitors want. A Chobe safari takes you along the riverside tracks by vehicle. A Chobe river cruise shows the same herds from the water, at drinking places where a vehicle cannot go.
How many elephants live in Botswana?
What each figure covers.
131,909 for Botswana
This is the estimate from the 2022 survey. It covers the whole country, not Chobe National Park alone. There is no separate count for the park.
227,900 for KAZA
KAZA is the cross-border conservation landscape of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Chobe is part of it. The same survey puts the elephants of the whole landscape at 227,900. A conservation landscape is not a visa area, so the number says nothing about border rules.
Why the herds look so big at the river
A crowd on the riverbank is a gathering, not a fixed population. In the dry season the river is the main water, so animals concentrate there. A concentration like this is not a fixed population of the riverbank.
Our pick: elephants from the river
A three-hour boat cruise along the river, where elephants come to drink; sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Chobe safaris, cruises and day trips
Game drives, river cruises and day trips from Kasane and Victoria Falls, with live prices and availability.
Where and when to watch elephants at Chobe
The place matters less than the season.
| Where | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Chobe Riverfront near Kasane | Herds at the water's edge in the dry months. Sedudu Gate is about 6 km west of Kasane, roughly 10 minutes by car. | Short trips, boats, first-time visitors |
| Savuti, inside the park | A remote area of marsh and channel with its own predators. Plan the sandy drive carefully. | Self-drivers and longer stays |
| From the river by boat | Elephants at drinking places, with hippos and crocodiles close by. | Photography and relaxed viewing |
Rain falls mainly from November to March. January and February average about 134 mm a month in the long-term series, and roads can be affected by heavy rain. From May to September the monthly average is between 0.0 and 2.2 mm. For most visitors who want elephants, the dry winter months on the Riverfront are the safest choice. Our guide to the best time to visit has the full month-by-month table.
Sightings can never be promised. Some days a herd crosses in front of the boat, other days the riverbank is quiet. Plan at least two outings so one slow day does not decide your trip.
Watching elephants well
A few rules protect the animals and keep you safe. They apply on a game drive and on the water alike.
- Stay in your vehicle. Leaving it is only allowed at designated facilities or with a permit.
- Drive slowly. The park rules set 40 km/h in the park and 80 km/h on the paved transit road. Follow any lower sign you see.
- Do not crowd an animal. On the water, boats must not press animals either.
- Swimming and water sports in park waters are not allowed, apart from approved lodge pools. Crocodiles and hippos share the river.
- Park hours: 6:00 to 18:30 from 1 April to 30 September, 5:30 to 19:00 from 1 October to 31 March. Night driving is allowed only in set exceptions.
Elephants, hunting and the political debate
Elephants are also a topic in national politics. A short, factual overview.
Hunting ban and its end
Botswana introduced a hunting ban in 2014 and lifted it in 2019. The government named conflicts between people and wildlife and the effect on livelihoods as the background. This does not mean that tourist hunting takes place inside Chobe National Park.
The offer to Germany
In April 2024 the then president publicly offered 20,000 elephants to Germany, in a dispute over the import of hunting trophies.
Living with elephants
Conflicts between people and elephants are part of the debate over hunting and livelihoods. As a visitor you see a protected area where the animals move along the river.
Keep planning your Chobe elephant trip
The next pages to open.
Chobe elephants: frequently asked questions
How many elephants are there in Chobe National Park?
There is no separate count for the park alone. The latest national number is 131,909 elephants for all of Botswana, from the 2022 survey. It is not a count of the park alone.
When is the best time to see elephants at Chobe?
The dry winter months, when elephants and buffalo gather at the river. Rainfall is close to zero from May to September in the long-term averages, so the river is the main water. No month is a guarantee.
Can I see elephants on a river cruise?
Yes, a cruise shows elephants at the water's edge, along with hippos, crocodiles and water birds. Whether a herd comes down while you are out depends on the day.
Does the national park allow elephant hunting?
The hunting ban of 2014 was lifted in 2019. That is a national decision and does not mean that tourist hunting takes place inside Chobe National Park.
Why are there so many elephants at the river in the dry season?
In the dry season the river is the main water, so animals concentrate there. It is a gathering, not a fixed population of the riverbank.